Sample-case.



N. J. LITTLE.

.SAMPLE CASE. nrmonron FILED M43. so. 1901.

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PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

No. 866,727. PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

N. J. LITTLE.

SAMPLE CASE. APPLICATION 11.21) MAR. 30. 1907.

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N; J. LITTLE.

SAMPLE UASB. APPLIOATION IVILED 130. 1907.

PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

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UNITED STATES NATHANIEL I. LITTLE, OF FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA.

SAMPLE-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filecl March 30,1907. Serial No. 365,491.

To all whom it may concern:

Be known that I, NATHANIEL J. LITTLE, a citizen of the United States residing at Fargo, in the county of Cass and State of North Dakota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sample-Gases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in sample cases and has for its object a device of its kind which is particularly adapted for use by traveling salesmen to display cigars or other articles.

Heretofore it has been customary to display goods of this character by opening each box containing such articles and showing the contents thereof by hand.

By the use of this invention a number of boxes can be displayed by one operation which results in saving of time and labor and expedites the work of the salesman.

Generally speaking, my invention comprises a sample case containing an expansible rack which carries a number of boxes and opens them for the inspection of their contents by a single movement.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention showing the case partly open, the back thereof being in closed, position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my invention closed; Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of Fig. 1 showing the end of the case nearest the observer broken away; Fig. 4 is a detail side view of Fig. 3 showing the case partly in section; Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the transverse rods holding one of the clips by which the body of one of the boxes is engaged; Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig 5; Fig. 7 is another detail view of one of the transverse rods showing one of the clips by which the cover of the box is engaged; Fig. 8 is an end view oi Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is another detail view of one of the transverse rods showing one of the clips by which the ends of bodies of two boxes are engaged; and Fig. 10 is an end view of Fig. 9.

In the drawings A represents the case which is provided with a floor 2, rigid ends 3 and 4, sides 5 and 6 which are hinged to the floor at 7 so that they are adapted to swing down, and a top 8 the edges of which are adapted to overlap the sides and end sof the case when it is closed. This case is provided with a number of hasps 9 and lock 10 by which the parts are secured together when the case is closed. A handle 11 on the side 6 is used for carrying the case and a handle 12 on the top 8 is provided for raising the cover and parts into superior position as shown in Fig. 1 when the hasps and lock have been opened,

In the case is provided an expansible rack B which in a general way, consists of a pair of oppositely disposed lazy tongs O and D and intermediate connections, the ends of said tongs being connected with the floor 2 and top of the case so that when the case is opened by lifting the top, the tongs are expanded. The intermediate connections referred to consist of transverse rods 13 the ends of which are freely connected to the ends of the arms 14 of each set of tongs, and transverse rods 15 which are freely connected between each pair of tongs at the junctions of the intersecting arms 14. These transverse rods serve the purpose of bracing the rack, the rods 13 in addition forming supports for the boxes E which are suspended between them as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and holding the articles such as cigars 40 to be displayed.

The length of the rack along the transverse rods as shown in Fig. 1 is suflicient to accommodate two boxes horizontally side by side and the vertical distance between the transverse rods when the rack is in superior position is suflicient to display the contents of the open boxes fully to view so that the labels inside of the covers are clearly exposed.

The lids 41 of the boxes are fastened to the transverse rods 13 by means of spring clips 16 one clip being used for each cover and each clip being provided with a pair of jaws 17 and 18 having impinging teeth 19 for engaging the cover, a spring 20 for holding the jaws closed,

and a block 22 on the jaw 17 through which the transverse rod passes freely.

The bodies 23 of the boxes are supported upon the transverse rods 13 by means of clips 24 and 25, each clip 24 being adapted to hold the ends of a pair of boxes and the clip 25 to hold the outer ends of said pair on a single transverse rod. The clip 24 has a parting wall 26 and angular flanges 27 adjacent thereto. Impinging points 28 on the wall 26 engage the ends of the boxes and said flanges hold the corners of the boxes in place. The clip 24 is fastened to the transverse rods substantially midway between its ends by means of a block 29 on the flanges and soldered, brazed or otherwise secured thereto.

The outer ends of the boxes are supported by means of clips 25 which consist of an angular frame 30 having points 31 which impinge against the end of the box and a block 32 through which the transverse rod passes freely. On the end of the block 32 and surrounding the transverse rod is a split, threaded and tapering sleeve 33 on which a bur or nut 34 is adapted to be turned for the purpose of clamping the clip on the transverse rod.

The upper and lower ends of the tongs are secured to the floor and top of the case by means of longitudinal arms 35 to which the arms at the extremities of the tongs are pivoted at 36 and 37 respectively adjoining the front and back of the casev The arms 35 are slotted longitudinally at 38 in which slots the pivots 37 are adapted to slide when the case is opened and closed. The arms 35 are fastened to the floor 2 and top 8 of the case by means of brackets 39. The rack is supported in superior position by means of buckle arms 42, the extremities of which are attached between a pair of the transverse arms.

In use, the boxes are attached to the transverse arms on the front and back of the racks as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by means of the clips 24, 25 and 16 and when a salesman wishes to display the goods in the case" the hasps and lock are opened and the cover raised by means of the handle 12. The buckle arm 42 is then set in the position shown in Fig. 3 and the front and back of the case swung down. As the cover is raised,

the boxes are automatically opened into the position shown in Fig. 1 and the labels and contents thereof displayed. When the case is closed by raising the front and back, pressing the buckle arm 42 in and lowering the top, the boxes are simultaneously closed so that their contents are held in place when the sample case is carried or in transit from place to place.

In accordance with the, patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

, Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the class set forth, comprising, in combination, an expansible rack, a receptacle having a cover opening and closing with said rack, and clips by which the body and cover of said receptacle are attached to said rack, for the purposes specified.

2. A device of the class set forth, comprising, in combination with a receptacle having a hinged cover, an expansible rack provided with transverse braces, clips attached to said braces by which the free end of said cover and the body of said receptacle are engaged so as to simultane ously open and close with said rack, for the purposes specified.

3. A device of the class set forth, comprising in combination, a collapsible rack by which a receptacle having a hinged cover is adapted to he supported, and connections with said rack to which the free end of said cover and the body of said receptacle are attached, for the purposes specified.

4. A device ol the class set forth, comprising in combination, an inclosing case provided with a cover, an expansible rack carried by said case and having its upper end attached to said cover, and means on said rack by which the body and cover of a receptacle are supported so that when the rack is extended and collapsed, said receptacle is respectively opened and closed.

5. Apparatus of the class set forth, comprising in combination, a collapsible rack by which a receptacle having a hinged cover is adapted to be supported, connections on said rack to which the free end of said cover and the body of said receptacle are attached, and an inclosing case in and to which said rack is fastened, for the purposes specified.

(i. A device of the class set forth, comprising in com bination, a collapsible rack by which a receptacle having a hinged cover is adapted to be supported, connections on said rack to which the free end of said cover and the body of said receptacle are attached, so that the recepta cle and rack are simultaneously opened and closed, and a case provided with a cover, said case and cover being respectively attached to the lower and upper ends of said rack, for the purposes specified.

7. A device of the class set forth, comprising in combination, a collapsible rack by which a receptacle having a hinged cover is adapted to be supported and provided with oppositely disposed lazy tongs, transverse braces between said tongs, and clips on said braces to which the free end of said cover and the body of said receptacle are attached, so that the receptacle and rack are simultaneously opened and closed,

8. A device of the class set forth, comprising, in combination, a collapsible rack by which a receptacle having a hinged cover is adapted to be supported and provided with oppositely disposed lazy tongs, horizontal braces between said tongs, clips on said braces by which the free end of said cover is attached to one of said braces and the body of said receptacle attached to the brace immediately below it, and a case provided with a detachable lid, the body of said case being attached to the lower ends .of said tongs and the lid to the upper ends thereof, for

the purposes specified.

ii. A device o1- the class set forth, comprising, in combination, a collapsible rack by which a receptacle having a hinged cover is adapted to be supported, connections on said rack to which the free end of said cover and the body of said receptacle are attached, a case provided with a detachable lid, and means for supporting said rack in superior position, the body of said case being attached to the lower end and the lid to the upper end of said rack, for the purposes specified.

10. A device of the class set forth, comprising, in combination, a collapsible rack by which a receptacle having a hinged cover is adapted to be supported, connections on said rack to which the free end of said cover and the body of said receptacle are attached, so that the recep tacle and rack are simultaneously opened and closed, a case provided with a detachable cover, and means by which said rack is supported in superior position, the body of said case being attached to the lower end and the cover to the upper end of said rack, for the purposes specified.

11. A device of the classset forth, comprising, in com bination, a collapsible rack by which a receptacle having a hinged cover is adapted to be supported, connections on said rack to which the free end of said cover and the body of said receptacle are attached, means for supporting said rack in superior position, a case provided with a detachable cover and hinged sides, and means for holding the parts of said case closed, the body of said case being attached to the lower end and the cover to the upper end of said rack, for the purposes specified.

12, A device of the class set fortlifcomprising, in conibination, a collapsible rack by which receptacles having hinged covers are adapted to be supported and provided with oppositely disposed lazy tongs, a plurality of longi tudinal braces between the joints at the ends of the arms of said tongs, clips by which the free end of one of said covers is attached to one of said braces and the body of said receptacle attached to the brace immediately below it. so that the receptacle and rack are simultaneously opened and closed, a case provided with a detachable lid and a movable front and back, and means by which the parts of said case are held in closed position, the body of said case being attached to the lower end and the lid to the upper end of said rack, for the purposes specified.

13. A device of the class set forth, comprising in combination, oppositely disposed lazy tongs, horizontal rods between the joints at the ends of the arms of said tongs, means by which the free end of a hinged lid of a box is attached to one of said rods and the front portion of the body of said box to a rod immediately below it, and means for holding said rack in extended position, said tongs being adapted when open to expose the inner surface of its lid and the contents in its body to view, and when contracted to close said box, for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NATHANIEL J. LITTLE.

Witnesses W. E. FULLER, G. E. SHAW. 

